Vivian Gahtan MD, the Division Chief of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Services at Upstate University Hospital, will serve as president of the Eastern Vascular Society for 2011 to 2012.

She is one example of the women who are filling top leadership positions in the country's professional vascular societies, reflecting a growth in the number of women entering the field of vascular surgery. In this year's National Resident Matching Program's vascular surgery integrated match, 59 percent of the positions were offered to female medical students. Women now account for 40 percent of all vascular surgery integrated residents.

In announcing Gahtan's and the other surgeons' appointments, Richard Cambria MD, president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, said "extremely talented women surgeons are moving our specialty forward. They are skilled surgeons, as well as being bright visionaries who have the leadership skills to ensure the specialty advances the treatment of vascular patients."